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Short Communication

No association between BMI and immunotoxicity or clinical outcomes for immune checkpoint inhibitors

    Cynthia Yeung

    Department of Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    ,
    Adi Kartolo

    Department of Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    ,
    Ryan Holstead

    Department of Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    ,
    Gordon Taylor Moffat

    Department of Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    ,
    Lilian Hanna

    Department of Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    ,
    Wilma Hopman

    Department of Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    &
    Tara Baetz

    *Author for correspondence: Tel.: +1 613 544 2631; Ext.: 4502/3;

    E-mail Address: tara.baetz@kingstonhsc.ca

    Department of Oncology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Kingston, ON, K7L 2V7, Canada

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/imt-2021-0250

    Background: The impact of BMI on immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicity and efficacy has not been clearly characterized. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective single-center study of patients with advanced unresectable/metastatic cancer initiated on immune checkpoint inhibitors. Results: Of the 409 patients included in the study, 115 (28%) had a BMI ≥30. There was no difference in the development of immune-related adverse events, treatment response or overall survival with respect to BMI <30 versus ≥30 for the whole study population or the melanoma subgroup. Conclusion: Patients with BMI in the obese range (≥30) were not at increased risk of immunotoxicity. Furthermore, BMI was not correlated with treatment response or overall survival in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

    Plain language summary

    Several previous studies have suggested that obesity may be correlated with improved efficacy of immunotherapy and raised the concern that obesity may be associated with increased immunotoxicity; however, other studies have not replicated these findings. The authors evaluated the records from one center of 409 patients with advanced cancer on immune checkpoint inhibitors. There was no difference with respect to adverse events, treatment response or survival between obese and nonobese patients.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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